NY Jets 2021 Training Camp State of the Roster: Tight End

How will the NY Jets tight ends perform in 2021 and beyond?

It is difficult to predict this tight end group's production considering the complete lack of NFL production through the air that all of these players share.

Herndon's rookie season stands out as the most productive year by any of these players, but after an injury-riddled sophomore season and disappointing third season, what can Jets fans expect from him?

Will the team get the strong-handed, highlight reel-making player we saw two years ago or the unreliable drop king of 2020? Keep in mind Herndon enters a contract year with a lot to prove.

Kroft cannot be expected to become the top pass-catching tight end after a full career of being a blocker, and the same can be said for Daniel Brown and his special-teamer status.

Likewise, Wesco's utter lack of pass-catching skills and 6-foot-3 270-pound frame makes him more of a fullback or H-back than a modern-day NFL tight end.

As ambitious as it may sound, if Herndon is unable to clean up his play, the top receiving tight end for this team could potentially end up being Yeboah. His stellar production at Ole Miss against the best defenses in college football make him an exciting option at the position.

At the start of the season, I would expect Herndon to be the primary pass-catcher at tight end, with Kroft potentially playing more snaps for his top-tier blocking skills.

As the season progresses, though, perhaps Yeboah could eventually see some snaps and add in production of his own.

However, as an undrafted rookie, Yeboah cannot be expected to produce for his roster. Beyond 2021, the long-term answer at tight end for the Jets is likely not on the roster right now.

Conclusion

The tight end room for the Jets is an uninspiring one. The roster lacks a bonafide starter at the position, but Gang Green does have a few solid depth tight ends who contribute in ways other than catching balls. 

While the team has an excellent blocker in Kroft and special-teamer in Brown, rookie quarterback Zach Wilson will lack a reliable safety valve at tight end, and he will likely have to look elsewhere for production through the air.

Unless Herndon returns to his 2018 form or Yeboah surprises as a rookie, there will not be much statistical production coming from the tight ends this season.

The NY Jets want that reliable pass-catcher at the tight end position that they have not possessed since Dustin Keller. And at the moment, they likely do not have that player on their roster.